Cosmetic container having a cooperating cosmetic carrier and inner sleeve

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic container having an inner sleeve and cosmetic carrier which cooperate to provide requisite torque and prevent angular movement therebetween. The cosmetic carrier includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending, vertical ribs and the inner sleeve includes a plurality of radially inwardly extending, vertical ribs. The cosmetic carrier is positioned within the inner sleeve wherein the ribs of one member cooperate with the ribs of the other. When the inner sleeve is rotated so as to extend or retract the cosmetic carrier, the inwardly extending ribs of the inner sleeve engage the outwardly extending ribs of the cosmetic carrier. When the cosmetic carrier is fully extended or fully retracted, the inwardly extending ribs of the inner sleeve and the outwardly extending ribs of the carrier are disengaged.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cosmetic container and, morespecifically, to a cosmetic carrier and an inner sleeve having enhancedtorque therebetween and for limiting, if not preventing, angularmovement therebetween.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional lipstick containers include a cosmetic carrier, a tubularinner sleeve, a tubular outer sleeve and a decorative sleeve. Thecosmetic carrier supports the lipstick and is generally configured as asleeve having radially extending lugs on opposing sides and is receivedwithin the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve defines longitudinallyextending slots on opposing sides wherein the lugs of the cosmeticcarrier extend therethrough. An outer sleeve defining a continuoushelical channel is positioned about the inner sleeve wherein the lugs ofthe cosmetic carrier are configured to be received within and totraverse along the length of the helical channel. This results in thecosmetic carrier being moved upwardly as the lugs traverse the length ofthe helical channel when a bottom portion of the inner sleeve isrotated. The decorative outermost sleeve is provided for aestheticpurposes. In operation, a bottom portion of the inner sleeve extendsbeyond the bottom of the outer decorative sleeve. The user rotates thebottom portion to cause the cosmetic carrier and, hence, the lipstick toextend from the case for applying the lipstick and to retract into thecase for storage.

A high quality lipstick container has a certain "feel" to it, i.e.,rotating freely yet having enough resistance or torque to be sturdy. Adesirable feature of cosmetic containers is that constant torque, i.e.,having minimal or no noticeable changes in torque, may be applied toextend and retract the cosmetic housed within the container. It is alsodesirable to prevent angular movement of the cosmetic carrier relativeto the inner sleeve. Angular movement of the cosmetic carrier may damagethe pomade or lipstick within the cosmetic carrier as it contacts theinner surface of the inner sleeve. Thus, obtaining the desirable amountof torque and obviating relative angular movement between the cosmeticcarrier and the inner sleeve provides a desirably smooth and uniformlyoperating cosmetic container.

Prior art attempts of providing increased torque to cosmetic containersinclude providing an interference between the cosmetic carrier and theinner sleeve. Such cosmetic containers may provide the requisite torque,but do so in a manner which requires exact tolerance, are relativelyexpensive to manufacture, and experience wear over extended use therebyadversely effecting torque produced between the relatively rotatingsleeves. Further, many such cosmetic containers have features directedto achieving the desired amount of torque, but cosmetic containers mustbe able to achieve the desired torque consistently and repeatedly whilesimultaneously preventing angular movement of the cosmetic carrierrelative to the inner sleeve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic containerhaving enhanced swivel torque while preventing angular movement of thecosmetic carrier relative to the inner sleeve.

It is another object of the present invention to do so in a consistent,repeatable manner.

The present invention pertains to a cosmetic container and, morespecifically, to the combination of the cosmetic container's innersleeve and cosmetic carrier. This combination provides the desiredamount of uniform torque and prevents angular movement of the carrierrelative to the inner sleeve, thereby protecting the pomade or lipstickhoused therein. Another benefit of the disclosed invention is that thecosmetic carrier may be locked relative to the inner sleeve at its fullyextended and fully retracted positions without a noticeable change intorque, which often results in an undesirable "clicking " sound.

This is achieved by the instant invention including a cosmetic carrierhaving a plurality of radially outwardly extending, vertical ribs and aninner sleeve including a plurality of radially inwardly extending,vertical ribs. Preferably both the cosmetic carrier and the inner sleeveare formed of a plastic resin wherein the respective ribs of each areintegrally formed therewith. Thus, the ribs possess an inherent degreeof flexibility. The cosmetic carrier is positioned within the innersleeve wherein the ribs of one member cooperate with the ribs of theother. Preferably, the cosmetic carrier includes two pairs, or four,radially outwardly extending ribs which extend substantially thevertical length of the cosmetic carrier and parallel to the longitudinalaxis thereof. The inner sleeve preferably includes two pairs, or four,vertical ribs extending radially inwardly.

The inner sleeve includes an upper tubular portion having a firstdiameter and a lower tubular portion having a second, greater diameterwherein the longitudinal slots are defined by the upper portion. Theinwardly extending ribs of the inner sleeve extend verticallysubstantially the length of the longitudinal slots. The thickness of theribs of the inner sleeve, as measured circumferentially, issubstantially less than the thickness of the ribs of the cosmeticcarrier, also measured circumferentially.

On the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal slots are lockingchannels which are defined by channels extending perpendicular to eachof the longitudinal slots. The locking channels on the upper end extendhorizontally in a direction opposite from the lower locking channels.Thus, when the cosmetic carrier is positioned within the inner sleeve,the lugs of the carrier extend through the longitudinal slots and, uponrotation of the base in one direction, the lugs of the cosmetic carriertraverse the length of the helical channel of the outer sleeve and thelongitudinal slot of the inner sleeve so as to extend the lipstick forapplication. Upon reaching the upper locking channel, the cosmeticcarrier is prevented from further rotational movement. Similarly, whenthe inner sleeve is rotated in the opposite direction, the cosmeticcarrier is confined at its fully retracted position by the lower lockingchannel.

In an unlocked position, i.e., when the inner sleeve is rotated so as toextend or retract the cosmetic carrier, the inwardly extending ribs ofthe inner sleeve are in contact with the outwardly extending ribs of thecosmetic carrier. This thus provides the requisite torque and preventsangular movement of the cosmetic carrier relative to the inner sleeve,thereby protecting the pomade contained therein. When the cosmeticcarrier is fully extended or fully retracted, the lug of the cosmeticcarrier is positioned within the respective one of the locking channels.In this position, the inwardly extending ribs of the inner sleeve andthe outwardly extending ribs of the carrier are not in alignment and,therefore, the members are disengaged, i.e, the ribs of the inner sleeveare positioned between adjacent ribs of the cosmetic carrier. Thisposition will be assumed until the requisite force is applied to thebase of the cosmetic carrier, thereby rotating the inner sleeve so thatthe ribs of the inner sleeve and the ribs of the cosmetic carrier againengage one another. Noticeable change in torque as the carrierapproaches the fully extended or fully retracted positions is minimized,if not obviated, by the mating ribs of the cosmetic carrier and innersleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be made apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cosmetic container according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the inner sleeve and cosmeticcarrier according to the present invention wherein the cosmetic carrieris fully retracted;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 3A--3A ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the inner sleeve and cosmeticcarrier according to the present invention wherein the cosmetic carrieris partially extended;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4A--4A ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the inner sleeve and cosmeticcarrier according to the present invention wherein the cosmetic carrieris in a fully extended position;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 5A--5A ofFIG. 5; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are top, cross-sectional views of the inner sleeve andthe cosmetic carrier, respectively, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodimentof the invention is shown. This invention should not, however, beconstrued as limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, it isprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and willfully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

The present invention as shown and described herein is a container forapplying cosmetics, such as lipstick. However, it should be evident thatthe container has utility in various other areas wherein a product is tobe extended from and retracted into a case. For instance, the containermay be utilized for any product requiring topical application.

The lipstick container of the present invention, indicated generally bythe reference character 10, is designed for dispensing lipstick so thatit may be cosmetically applied. The cosmetic container 10 includes aplurality of concentrically arranged tubular members, which members areshown in an exploded fashion in FIG. 2. The various members areconcentrically arranged about the longitudinal axis l. Starting from theinside, the cosmetic container 10 includes a cosmetic carrier 12, afirst tubular inner sleeve 14, a second tubular outer sleeve 16 and adecorative sleeve 18. The resulting product containing the cosmeticcontainer typically also includes a base shell and a top shell as shownin phantom in FIG. 1.

The inner sleeve 14 includes an upper tubular portion 20 having a firstdiameter and a lower tubular portion 22 having a second diameter whereinthe second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The uppertubular portion 20 defines at least one, and preferably a pair, ofdiametrically opposed longitudinal slots 24. The longitudinal slots 24extend parallel to longitudinal axis l of the cosmetic container 10.

An upper locking channel 26 extends perpendicular to the longitudinalslot 24. Similarly, a lower locking channel 28 extends perpendicular tothe longitudinal slot 24 in a direction opposite the upper lockingchannel 26 as described in more detail below. An integral opening 29 isprovided along the upper end of the longitudinal slot 24 of the tubularinner sleeve 14 for positioning the cosmetic carrier 12 within the innersleeve 14. The inner sleeve 14 also includes at least one, andpreferably a pair or more of ribs 30 which extend longitudinally alongthe upper tubular portion 20 of the inner sleeve 14, parallel to thelongitudinal axis l. As illustrated, the inner sleeve 14 includes atleast two pairs of vertical ribs 30. The vertical ribs 30 extendradially inward from the upper tubular portion 20 and are preferablyintegrally molded therewith. As used herein, "vertical ribs" refers toribs which extend along a portion of the length of the inner sleeve,irrespective of the width of the ribs; the width being measuredcircumferentially. Thus, as used herein, even a rib which is wider,measured circumferentially, than it is long, measured along the lengthof the inner sleeve, nonetheless falls within the definition of a"vertical rib". The same terminology is applied in the description tofollow regarding the vertical ribs 36 of the cosmetic carrier 12.

Preferably, the inner sleeve 14 is formed of a plastic material and,therefore, the vertical ribs 30 are inherently flexible. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, the vertical ribs 30 extend along aportion of the length of the inner sleeve 14, and preferablysubstantially along at least a quarter of the length of the uppertubular portion 20, e.g., at least along half of the length of the uppertubular portion 20 of the inner sleeve 14.

The cosmetic carrier 12 is defined by an annular sidewall 32 whichincludes at least one, and preferably a pair of diametrically opposed,radially outwardly extending lugs 34. The sidewall 32 also includes atleast one and preferably a plurality of radially outwardly extendingvertical ribs 36. When assembled, the cosmetic carrier 12 is positionedconcentrically within the tubular inner sleeve 14 as best illustrated inFIGS. 3 through 6. As such, the carrier lugs 34 extend through thelongitudinal slot 24 for retraction and extension of the lipstick withinthe cosmetic carrier 12. The vertical ribs 36 of the cosmetic carrier 12may extend along any length of the sidewall 32. According to a preferredembodiment, however, the vertical ribs extend at least along a quarterof the length of the cosmetic carrier sidewall 32, e.g., at least alonghalf of the length thereof.

The tubular inner sleeve 14 is positioned concentrically within atubular outer sleeve 16 which defines at least one helical channel 38.The helical channel 38 is configured so as to receive at least a portionof the radially outwardly extending lugs 34 extending from the cosmeticcarrier 12. The decorative outer sleeve 18 is then positioned about thetubular outer sleeve 16 for aesthetic purposes.

Accordingly, the cosmetic carrier 12, positioned within in the tubularinner sleeve 14, is movable longitudinally upwardly and downwardlywithin the inner sleeve 14. The longitudinal slots 24 permit the lugs 34of the cosmetic carrier 12 to extend therethrough. The lower tubularportion 22, when assembled with the other members of the cosmeticcontainer 10, provides a manually rotatable base portion.

The operation of the cosmetic container 10 according to the presentinvention will now be described with reference to the various figures.The cosmetic container extends and retracts the lipstick so that it maybe applied. The lipstick is propelled within and from the cosmeticcontainer 10 by removal of the shell cover (shown in phantom FIG. 1) andby rotation of the lower tubular portion 22 of the inner sleeve 14relative to the outer sleeve 16. In an alternative embodiment, the lowertubular portion 22 may be secured to a shell base (shown in phantom andFIG. 1) wherein, when the shell base is rotated, the inner sleeve 14secured thereto also rotates. Accordingly, rotating the shell base withthe lower tubular portion 22 in a predetermined direction causes thecosmetic carrier 12 retained therein to rotate. This is achieved due tothe extension of the lugs 34 through the longitudinal slots 24 whichwould, inherently, abut a respective longitudinal side edge defining thelongitudinal slot 24 (depending upon the direction of rotation). Becausethe lugs 34 are also received, or a least a portion thereof, within thehelical channel 38 of the tubular outer sleeve 16, the lugs 34 of thecosmetic carrier 12 traverse the length of the helical channel 38wherein the carrier 12 is moved upward or downward within thelongitudinal slots 24.

At each of the upper and lower ends of the longitudinal slot 24 areprovided laterally extending locking channels 26 and 28 which, as shown,are formed integrally with the longitudinal slots 24. The lockingchannels 26 and 28 limit the movement of the cosmetic carrier 12 so thatwhen the cosmetic carrier 12 reaches the uppermost position, forexample, it is restrained from further upward movement because furtherrotatable movement of the lower tubular portion 22 of the inner sleeve14 is prohibited. Likewise, when the lipstick within the cosmeticcarrier 12 is fully retracted, further retraction is prohibited due tothe retention of the lug 34 within the lower laterally extending lockingchannel 28 of the longitudinal slot 24. Thus, the lipstick may beextended by rotating the lower tubular portion 22 in one direction, andretracted by rotating the lower tubular portion 22 in the oppositedirection to permit easy application while protecting the lipstickwithin the cosmetic container when its not in use.

Increased torque results, at least in part, by the combination of theradially inwardly extending vertical ribs 30 of the inner sleeve 14which cooperate with the radially outwardly extending vertical ribs 36of the cosmetic carrier 12 as described in more detail with particularreference to FIGS. 3 through 5. FIG. 3 represents the cosmetic container10 in a fully retracted position wherein the radially outwardlyextending lugs 34 of the cosmetic carrier 12 are received within thelower locking channels 28. In this position, the cosmetic carrier ribs36 are disengaged from the tubular inner sleeve vertical ribs 30 as bestillustrated in FIG. 3A.

As rotational force is applied to the lower tubular portion 22, theinner sleeve 14 rotates in a predetermined direction, causing thecosmetic carrier 12 to traverse the length of longitudinal slot 24, asillustrated in FIG. 4, as the lugs 34 simultaneously traverse the lengthof the helical channel 38 of the tubular outer sleeve 16. Between thefully extended and the fully retracted position, the cosmetic carriervertical ribs 36 engage the inner sleeve vertical ribs 30 as bestillustrated in FIG. 4A. This provides an interference between theconcentrically arranged tubular members thereby creating torque andpreventing relative angular movement therebetween. Preferably, the outerdiameter of the cosmetic carrier 12, defined between outermost surfacesof the vertical ribs 36, is at least equal to, e.g., greater than, theinner diameter of the inner sleeve 14, defined between innermostsurfaces of the vertical ribs 30. Thus, due to the preferred inherentflexibility of the vertical ribs 30 and 36, interference occursresulting in the desired amount of swivel torque. This also limits orprevents relative angular movement and provides for smoothly operatinglocking functions when the carrier lugs 34 are in the fully extended orretracted position.

When the cosmetic carrier 12 is fully extended, the cosmetic carrierlugs 34 are received within the upper locking channel 26 as illustratedin FIG. 5. In the fully extended position, the cosmetic carrier verticalribs 36 and the inner sleeve vertical ribs 30 are again in a disengagedposition as represented by FIG. 5A.

Preferably, at least two pairs of ribs, both on the cosmetic carrier 12and the tubular inner sleeve 14, are provided as represented in FIGS. 6Aand 6B. As illustrated, therefore, two pairs of ribs 30 and 36 areprovided on each the cosmetic carrier 12 and inner sleeve 14. The widthof the ribs 36 of the carrier 12, as measured circumferentially, aregreater than the width of the ribs 30 of the inner sleeve 14. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 6B, the center of the ribs 36 of thecosmetic carrier 12 are each positioned at an angle α which is at least45° from a lateral axis l' extending across the centers of the carrierlugs 34, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis l. According to apreferred embodiment, α is about 53° from the lateral axis l' and theribs 30 extend circumferentially about 10° along the circumference ofthe carrier 12. The center of the ribs 30 of the inner sleeve 14, asillustrated in FIG. 6A, are each positioned at an angle β which is atleast 20°, such as 30°, from the lateral axis l' which extends acrossthe center of the longitudinal slots 24.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, itwill be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited theretosince modifications may be made by those skilled in the art,particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is thereforecontemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications thatincorporate those features or these improvements in the true spirit andscope of the invention.

That which is claimed:
 1. A cosmetic container for dispensing a cosmeticcomprising:a first tubular sleeve having at least one rib extendingradially inward; a cosmetic carrier having an annular sidewallconcentrically positioned within said first tubular sleeve and beingmovable therein along the longitudinal axis of said first tubular sleevebetween a substantially fully extended and a substantially fullyretracted position defining an unlocked position therebetween, andhaving at least one rib extending radially outward from said sidewalland configured to mate with said rib of said tubular sleeve when saidcarrier is positioned within said first sleeve in said unlocked positionbetween said substantially fully extended and substantially fullyretracted positions.
 2. A cosmetic container according to claim 1wherein said rib of said cosmetic carrier is a vertical rib whichextends along a length of said annular sidewall parallel to thelongitudinal axis thereof.
 3. A cosmetic container according to claim 2wherein said rib of said first sleeve is a vertical rib which extendsalong a length of said tubular sleeve parallel to the longitudinal axisthereof.
 4. A cosmetic container according to claim 3 wherein said firstsleeve includes at least a pair of said ribs positioned on opposingsidewalls thereof.
 5. A cosmetic container according to claim 4 whereinsaid first sleeve includes at least two pairs of said ribs with each ribof said pairs being positioned on diametrically opposing sidewallsthereof.
 6. A cosmetic container according to claim 3 wherein said atleast one vertically extending rib of said cosmetic carrier and said atleast one vertically extending rib of said first sleeve extend acircumferential width transverse to the longitudinal axis of saidcosmetic carrier and said width of said cosmetic carrier rib is greaterthan said width of said first sleeve rib.
 7. A cosmetic containeraccording to claim 3 wherein said at least one vertically inwardlyextending rib of said first tubular sleeve and a diametrically opposingsidewall of said first sleeve defines an inner diameter which is atleast equal to an outer diameter of said cosmetic carrier defined bysaid vertically outwardly extending rib of said carrier and adiametrically opposing sidewall thereof.
 8. A cosmetic containeraccording to claim 7 wherein said outer diameter of said cosmeticcarrier is greater than said inner diameter of said first tubularsleeve.
 9. A cosmetic container according to claim 2 wherein said firstsleeve is defined by an upper tubular portion having a first diameterand a lower tubular portion having a second diameter greater than saidfirst diameter and said vertically extending rib of said first sleeveextends substantially along at least a quarter of the length of saidupper tubular portion.
 10. A cosmetic container according to claim 9wherein said vertically extending rib of said first sleeve extendssubstantially along at least half of the length of said upper tubularportion.
 11. A cosmetic container according to claim 2 wherein saidvertically extending rib of said cosmetic carrier extends substantiallyalong at least a quarter of the length of said cosmetic carrier.
 12. Acosmetic container according to claim 11 wherein said verticallyextending rib of said cosmetic carrier extends substantially along atleast half of the length of said cosmetic carrier.
 13. A cosmeticcontainer according to claim 2 wherein said cosmetic carrier includes atleast a pair of said ribs positioned on opposing sidewalls thereof. 14.A cosmetic container according to claim 13 wherein said cosmetic carrierincludes at least two pairs of said ribs with each rib of said pairsbeing positioned on diametrically opposing sidewalls thereof.
 15. Acosmetic container according to claim 14 wherein said cosmetic carrierincludes a second, lateral axis extending perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis wherein each of said ribs of said at least two pairsof ribs are positioned with a center located more than 45° (degrees)from the lateral axis.
 16. A cosmetic container according to claim 14wherein said inner sleeve has a second, lateral axis perpendicular tosaid longitudinal axis wherein each of said ribs of said at least twopairs of ribs are positioned with a center located more than 20°(degrees) from the lateral axis.
 17. A cosmetic container according toclaim 1 further comprising an outer tubular sleeve positionedconcentrically about said first tubular sleeve, said outer tubularsleeve including a helical channel extending along an inner peripherythereof.
 18. A cosmetic container according to claim 17 wherein saidfirst tubular sleeve includes at least one slot extending longitudinallyalong at least a substantial portion of its length, and wherein saidcosmetic carrier includes at least one radially, outwardly extending lugextending through said slot and into said helical channel so that uponrotation of said first tubular sleeve relative to said outer sleeve,said lug traverses the length of said helical channel and said slot sothat the cosmetic carrier may be extended and retracted.
 19. Thecosmetic container according to claim 18 wherein said one rib of saidfirst tubular sleeve and said one rib of said carrier are positioned tobe in engagement with each other during extension and retraction of saidcarrier.
 20. A cosmetic container according to claim 1 wherein said atleast one rib of said carrier does not engage said at least one rib ofsaid first tubular sleeve in said substantially fully extended andretracted positions.